Optometry is a promising field, but like all other professions, it comes with its own challenges and difficulties.

Holding
down a job in optometry is not an easy task. You have to meet many
requirements, fulfill a certain criteria, serve a large number of
patients, work continuously for long hours as well as work alongside
people you may not necessarily like. Also, when it comes to optometry,

many
people are doing jobs that they perhaps didn’t even want to do in the
first place but are doing so because of a lack of options or other
similar reason. Thus, burnout in optometry is not a new phenomenon, but
despite being so common, many optometrists are unable to identify
whether they are experiencing burnout or just temporary tiredness.

Doing
something that you are not satisfied with for a long period of time is
not only emotionally exhausting, but it can also affect you mentally as
well as physically. Take a look at the following signs of optometrist
burnout so that you can take the required action before it becomes too
late.

You Feel Extremely Exhausted

Continuing to work at a job that stresses you out will lead to chronic fatigue. This means that whether you get 8 hours of sleep or not, your exhaustion won’t go away. You might think that the upcoming weekend or a short break from work will refresh and re-energize you but that ‘next’ break just doesn’t arrive. Weariness becomes your ally and you are likely to fell drained out and lethargic most of the time.

Headaches Become Frequent

Do
you think it’s that late night Sunday party that’s causing you that
headache? Or that the back pain you are feeling is because you have to
sit at a desk from 9 to 5?

If you experience headaches, shoulder
pain, back pain or any other pain frequently without doing any rigorous
exercises or other physically exhaustive tasks, then it’s your body’s
way of saying that you are experiencing burnout in optometry. This is
because extreme stress decreases the production of dopamine and keeps
your muscles tightened which ultimately leads to physical pain.

You Turn Insomniac

Sleepless
nights or having trouble falling asleep even when you feel very tired
is one of the most prominent signs of burnout. This can happen due to
various reasons. For instance, if your job is too demanding, then you
might be fearful of falling short and not being able to complete the
required tasks on time. Or if you wanted to be a full-time OD but are
instead stuck in a minor role in corporate optometry then, needless to
say, feeling a lack of accomplishment will keep you up at night.

Other Signs

Apart
from these, common signs of burnout include stomach aches as well as
nausea, vomiting or even diarrhea in extreme cases. Moreover, excessive
stress can lower your immunity, making you more susceptible to common
cold, flu, and other common viruses.

Burnout in healthcare workers is a serious issue. So, if you are experiencing burnout in optometry, make sure to take a step back, evaluate, prioritize or re-prioritize things and take action if it’s time to consider a new job.

Whether you have been practicing optometry for quite some time now or are about to enter the field soon, you would know how important it is to satisfy patients in terms of eye care and the overall service you provide.

And a major difficulty faced by ODs and optometrists worldwide is when their patients can’t understand why their visit is being billed when they have insurance or when their examination is called ‘routine’ and when it is ‘medical.’

Apart from customer satisfaction, what lies between your optometry practice being profitable and incurring revenue losses is to know when an examination is routine or medical and therefore, bill it accordingly.

While customers are normally confused between the two types of exams, a part of the confusion stems from doctors themselves.

When the ODs and the staff are clear and confident about the services they provide only then can they can satisfy their patients better.

What is a routine exam?

A patient’s exam will be considered routine if there is no emergency or chief compliant behind their reason to visit. If they don’t have a history of any major eye illness or disease, the diagnosis involves low to no decision making or the primary diagnosis is refractive in nature, then the examination will be considered routine.

What is a medical exam?

Unlike a routine exam, a medical exam requires some important decision-making. There is usually a chief complaint or some other ailment that compels the patient to visit an optometrist.

If the medical diagnosis correlates with their complaint or even if there is no apparent reason but the patient has a history of some ocular disease then their examination will be marked as a medical exam.

It goes without saying that everyone wants to save money. Therefore, most patients want to use their routine benefits in order to save what they can. But being an experienced practitioner, if you deem the exam to be medical then it is necessary to explain to the patient why you will be billing their medical insurance.

You need to handle such situations well because it shows to customers that you provide a higher level of eye care than they might have imagined.

It is best you sort things out as early as when a patient calls or visits to book an appointment.

Ask them if they have any medical condition such as diabetes, hypertension.

Diabetes is amongst the leading causes of blindness, so in case a patient is diabetic, let them know that their exam will be considered medical.

Also, ask the patients about their insurance details so that you can decide whether they are eligible for bill reductions or not.

Suggest if they require an OCT scan or a retinal photo and confirm their eligibility for different eye-health benefits.

Give your patients an intake form that explains when an examination is routine and medical.

Ask them to carefully read it and then sign and submit it to you before the exam.

This shows that they acknowledge their understanding of routine and health insurance benefits and how these benefits can be utilized.

Corporate Optometry is indeed a promising field, especially in terms of monetary gain. Of course you would know this if you have been a Corporate OD or even if you are about to graduate from a school of optometry soon. The ‘bright’ future that this path offers is likely to have been a major factor that motivated you to pursue a career in corporate optometry.

But whether you feel you have gained sufficient knowledge during optometry school, or have been successfully practicing and think you know enough, you must remember that optometry is an evolving profession and they is always room for growth. You should always what to learn and seek more.

If you want to grow in corporate optometry you must find resources to develop yourself. There are a lot of practice management and clinical resources but there should be more on leadership, career advancement and extending personal goals.

Embrace the challenges!

To ensure success in your work, you must develop the ability to perform well under pressure. Many Corporate ODs see a large number of patients and the long work hours with fewer holidays that come with this career choice. Even if you are stressed out in the beginning, allow yourself to embrace the challenge and meet the requirements of your work head-on. Not only will you soon adjust, but you will also learn to manage and cope with all the pressure at work.The key is to maintain a positive attitude. Eat healthy and do exercise regularly and perhaps yoga or meditation as well, since they are proven to promote a healthy mind.

And no matter what happens, remember it is the obstacles that create personal growth.

Learn, learn, and learn!

Continue expanding your knowledge about optometry and the key treatments and procedures in the industry. Step of the corporate OD island and meet other ODs that practice with the same company and expand outside that network as well. Engage in healthy discussions on important topics in your field.

Joining the Facebook group Corporate Optometry can provide continuing personal development as they often provide not just the best practical methods, but also teach management and other key life skills that other corporate ODs face.

Self Reflect

Self-reflect and evaluate your career goals and want you want to achieve in a reasonable time frame and make any appropriate adjustments as required. This will be of great benefit to not only those around you but to you yourself as well. You must continue to expand your interests, and shape, improve and develop your skills and knowledge, in order to advance your optometric career and become the OD that you always envisioned in yourself.

Self Reflection should be done on short term and long term goals evaluating your failures and re-framing them to continue to grow!

With the right polishing, not just the glasses but you can shine as well!